[PKL]

I prefer it this way. New but old.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Tacoma

G20 vs. G42: It looks the same! The center floor console looks interchangeable - they probably are. You have to look to the doors to tell the difference.

The two modern BMW interiors go beyond family resemblance. They're practically twins!

I've been following some of the wider comments from users (also outside this forum) and there is a set of opinion which supports having very similar, near identical interiors in different model ranges.

And this is why. Some users want the same feel, built & features in different sized vehicles. They love say the Five, but want a smaller model with the same quality, feel, options, quality, or whatever.

As an example, the last generation 1/2-series was criticised by many, as being a poor relative to even the 3-series and particularly the 5-series. Can't we have the same? But in the smaller body?

Then the criticism of the F3x models, why not as good a build as the 5-series? Why not as quiet? Not as cheap looking? etc., etc. BMW does go some way to give the customers better cabins, in the smaller body shells.

As I see it, to do this there must be an economy of scale, costs can be controlled with the same parts. I know some just see cost savings, but I see it as giving the lower end better quality. Remember smaller vehicles come at a lower price point, but production of a smaller car isn't much less than for a larger vehicle.

This is the issue we have in Europe, particularly with small city cars. Customers want as much built in, as the segments further up the chain, but how do manufacturers make a profit on price points which squeeze the margins so much? For some manufacturers it is easier to drop the product, rather than make a loss. I see BMW trying to give us the goodies and quality many want, but that comes at the cost of an even more familiar cabin build.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

I hope you are not driving while typing this! And getting a massage in a car is not something unique to Audi; my BMW 530e has a massage function (8 settings with three different intensity levels).

I never use my phone while driving, dad.

[to_riffic]

The interior familiarity doesn't bother me at all, the fact you can sit inside and easily navigate your way around it and not feel entirely lost is more comforting than anything. There isn't a huge learning curve or a misplacement of things. I think it comes down to whether I can adapt to the new look, exterior-wise, and driving dynamics.

[Skiy]

Familiarity doesn't bother me either but having the same quality plastics from a 2 series in a X7 or 8 series is what was disappointing. Sure the dash is leather and headliner can be alcantara but the buttons, center console plastic and all the lower interior plastics feel budget car cheap.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Tacoma

G20 vs. G42: It looks the same! The center floor console looks interchangeable - they probably are. You have to look to the doors to tell the difference.

The two modern BMW interiors go beyond family resemblance. They're practically twins!

Whoa, that's crazy! The. Exact. Same. Interior!

[chassis]

Originally Posted by Penguino

What does any of those things have to do with using different style steering wheels and different air vents design or maybe a unique digital cluster for each series?

A difference between series is not related to quality concerns, it's a cost saving decision that's causing fatigue.

It's OK if it is someone's first BMW, but I've been driving BMWs since 1999. Changing every 3 years feels like I'm getting into the same car lately.

Penguino What have you decided based on the comments posted to this thread? BMW in your future? Or not?

[wtwo3]

For me there's a colossal jump in interior between a 3/4 series/x3/x4, and a 5 series/x5/x6. I have a 2020 m340i and a 2020 X5, and the interiors, wile styled somewhat similarly, are night and day difference in fit and finish, material quality, and overall features. So from that perspective, I think BMW is doing totally fine.

I also find the G05 X5, fully optioned, has by far the best interior in its class when considering all variables (style, quality, features, etc). I cross shopped it with the Mercedes GLE (very flashy interior but the materials quality was very subpar in comparison), the Audi Q8 (this was a close 2nd to the X5 - while it had great quality, the multiple screens were a little bit of a turnoff), and the Porsche Cayenne (I didn't find the interior up to par for the price they were charging). I truly believe a loaded X5/X7 has the nicest interior this side of a Bentley Bentayga.

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by chassis

Penguino What have you decided based on the comments posted to this thread? BMW in your future? Or not?

Waiting on the new X7 to come out in August to see if its going to incorporate the dual screen design and an upgraded interior.

If that fails, waiting for the new X5 to come out April of next year to see what's going to happen.

Alternatively, put a reservation for a Rivian R1S.

[nerdogray]

My fatigue is with the market in general. Every company in the entire chain is exploiting circumstances and left the consumer holding the shit end of the stick. Not a fan of the interiors myself. The M8's are a good direction.. I love the patterned Ivory/Tartufo combo. But with simple things like Bowers or wireless charging (despite its issues) not re-emerging I just have issues paying for a lowered expectation. And I call bullshit on the whole chip shortage fiasco, but I'm sure that's just conspiracy talking. Go Team Planet.

[snareman]

It used to be that if you spent more, 7 vs 3 for instance, you got new cool tech that would eventually trickle down to the lower models some years later. I remember seeing the 3D surround view on a 7 a bunch of years ago and now its on pretty much all the cars. Not that I really find it that useful, but there isn't really much that is more special on an 8 vs a 3 or 4. I love the new interiors and it makes my last gen F82 M4 seem like it had 70's tech in comparison, but it just surprises me that there isn't something extra special on the higher models. Not even B&W anymore unless you live in some other country - both Canada and Germany offer them for instance. iDrive 8 doesn't seem like a great idea to me. The screen looks cool and futuristic and all, but WE NEED BUTTONS!! Having to dive into the menus for things that were once a simple button bush is backwards and less safe as you have to take your eyes off the road longer. Sure, you can Hey BMW it, but that is unsatisfactorily slow. I don't know who they got to beta test it that said getting rid of all the buttons was a great idea.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Mercedes interiors look more flashy but quality is easily a notch below BMW and Audi, this has been extensively reaffirmed by journalist/media types too. Lot more hard plastics, creaking/squeaking in their cabins, etc.

Yeah the quality in a Merc interior is pretty disappointing, even when the design hits the mark.

[RPM33]

Originally Posted by Penguino

While looking at all the alternatives offered by BMW you can't void to run into something you experienced before. I've been owning BMWs for the last 16 years. Every new one used to create some level of excitement and I got to play with something new but now as I get ready to choose our next one, I feel like I'm buying the same car all over again.

The X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, 3-series and 5-series, all have the same interior. I want something new but feel I'm buying the same ol.

Seats look the same/very similar, dash or doors are nearly identical, the steering wheel is the same.

My only alternatives are MB which the GLE does do it for me and the GLS is too big.

Porsche is a good alternative but the Cayenne is a bit tame look wise.

The reality is I love BMWs but the new ones all feel old to me. Is anyone else experiencing this fatigue?

Can you guess which interior belongs to which model?

Yes they all look the same. In business, companies do this to save money and increase profits. The term is called synergy. I’m on my second BMW since 2017 and I’m getting sick of the brand too.

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by RPM33

Yes they all look the same. In business, companies do this to save money and increase profits. The term is called synergy. I’m on my second BMW since 2017 and I’m getting sick of the brand too.

Imagine 15 years of BMWs

[BMWCCA1]

When you have my long-term perspective from BMW ownership over the past 50-years, you have more appreciation for where they started and how far they've come. BMW evolution becomes obvious and intriguing if you go back more than three-years!

You also might not want to own anything made after 2013!

[cooolone2]

Well... When you dumb down the "Experience" then there's really no reason to invest in the "Brand"...

Treat customers like they're all stupid and your design team couldn't possibly be wrong, the customers are...

Don't offer tech available in a $25k car in your $60+ cars...

Cookie cutter design across models making it all plain vanilla in the interest of streamlining costs... See #1

Well, they can ride past sales and contemporary supply shortages to prop up their numbers, but sooner or later they'll express what everyone is thinking!

I was in Germany in late 2019 and they rented the last BMW in front of me, got an Audi instead and it was a real nice ride. Who knows next... But I do know, my M240 isn't going anywhere! Lolz

[chris719]

Originally Posted by Skiy

Familiarity doesn't bother me either but having the same quality plastics from a 2 series in a X7 or 8 series is what was disappointing. Sure the dash is leather and headliner can be alcantara but the buttons, center console plastic and all the lower interior plastics feel budget car cheap.

I don't see it that way. When you look at the quality of the buttons and plastics in the G series cars, it is a big improvement over most of the F series cars. If anything the 2 series is getting the quality of plastics and buttons that belonged in a 5 series before. Maybe the 7 or 8 deserves something more special, but I think it's designed toward the middle of the product stack and actually elevates the lower models.

The increased volume from component reuse reduces the overall cost and lets them use a higher quality part to begin with.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by snareman

It used to be that if you spent more, 7 vs 3 for instance, you got new cool tech that would eventually trickle down to the lower models some years later.

That was a lot of artificial segmentation and gatekeeping. Like no HUD in the lower models, etc. Competition has stopped them from being able to do that. BMW can no longer milk you as easily for simple electronic features because the competition offer them on $20k cars. The cost of developing any significant new technology is high and it needs to be spread across the model range to recoup that cost. The low-hanging fruit has been picked years ago.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by chris719

That was a lot of artificial segmentation and gatekeeping. Like no HUD in the lower models, etc. Competition has stopped them from being able to do that. BMW can no longer milk you as easily for simple electronic features because the competition offer them on $20k cars. The cost of developing any significant new technology is high and it needs to be spread across the model range to recoup that cost. The low-hanging fruit has been picked years ago.

Yes, good point. You can get a lot of that stuff on a Honda Civic now so it's hard to cheap out on it on a lower end 'luxury' BMW.

[itrocks4u]

BMW (specifically the Ms?) have always been about the driving experience. I'm okay with the interior as long as the drive makes me want to stay on the road. I enjoyed that in my 17 M3 and 19 M4. I really hope G80 feels the same. Even between g80 and f80, I do enjoy f80 interior quite a bit.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by itrocks4u

BMW (specifically the Ms?) have always been about the driving experience. I'm okay with the interior as long as the drive makes me want to stay on the road. I enjoyed that in my 17 M3 and 19 M4. I really hope G80 feels the same. Even between g80 and f80, I do enjoy f80 interior quite a bit.

If I'm paying $70-100k or more for a car ($84k for my M4, $138k for the upcoming M8) I want the driving experience AND the nice amenities experience.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by MJBO

Yeah the quality in a Merc interior is pretty disappointing, even when the design hits the mark.

They are very flashy looking. You see the youtube videos that show off the vibrant LED screens (they do LCD's much better than BMW) and light show ambient lighting that even changes colors when you change cabin temp and they look like best in class until you actually sit in them and start touching buttons and surfaces. They are using plastics in some places that may not even cut it in a Japanese economy car. I feel you take the good with the bad with these interiors as at night they do look pretty cool and on first glance they look very sharp. Not sure what's going on with that brand right now as they are having a lot of reliability issues.